456 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



fore the sale of 1873, leaving no offspring in 

 the herd. It has been commonly claimed that 

 tuberculosis was the cause of this and the sub- 

 sequent mortality and lack of fecundity, but it 

 has, perhaps, not been generally known that 

 every cow and calf at New York Mills had 

 contracted from the English importation of 

 1870 one of the most aggravating of all bovine 

 plagues, foot-and-mouth disease, which scourge 

 during the years 1867 and 1868 had so sorely 

 tried the courage of Mr. Booth and others in 

 Great Britain. The only two beasts upon the 

 farm that escaped attack were the bulls 4th 

 Duke of Geneva and Royal Briton. A frame 

 that had been used for shoeing oxen was pro- 

 cured from a blacksmith away in the woods of 

 Oneida County and each animal had its feet 

 dressed daily; even the cows that were heavy 

 in calf being subjected to this treatment. 

 Aside from the Hillhurst people, who were 

 going through the same ordeal, no one knew 

 at the time of this difficulty. Linseed-meal 

 gruel was provided, and as. a result of care^ 

 f ul nursing no deaths occurred. Like la grippe 

 in the human subject, foot-and-mouth disease 

 in cattle is chiefly to be dreaded for its after 

 effects. It will be recalled that during one 

 season (probably 1870) after the disease had 

 been prevalent at Warlaby Mr. Booth raised 

 but one heifer calf. To this cause, therefore, 





